Stop the Counter Surfing

Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service
By Hilarie Erb, professional dog trainer and member of the AKC GoodDog! Helpline team

Holidays are coming-up fast! This brings exciting opportunities for our dogs to score extra treats, but not necessarily the ones we mean them to have!

Besides extra food being around, we humans are often too busy with cooking, baking, and wrapping to constantly keep an eye on Rover. This leads to more opportunities for him to make bad choices. Whether they are tall enough to help themselves to what’s on the kitchen counter or are only able to reach what is on the coffee table, “counter surfing” is a profitable pastime for many canines.

Why doesn’t your dog understand that this is wrong?

Dogs do not have the concept of right and wrong. They are opportunistic and simply know that if something desirable is within reach, it’s fair game. They can learn that it is not okay to help themselves when their owners are present because they will get scolded. But when the people are gone, most dogs see it as perfectly safe to take what is available.

Counter surfing is a self-rewarding behavior.

If your dog jumps onto the counter and gets a stick of butter, a ham, or just a few crumbs, it was worth the effort of checking. If he’s had luck in the past, then it will take a few weeks of having no luck at all before he gives up. There is not a magical way to eliminate this behavior, but the first thing to do is to remove temptations.

Since kitchen counters are where we prepare meals every day, it’s difficult to make sure that not even a crumb is left. But if the counters are clean every time you leave the kitchen, he might eventually give up. You can also try putting lemon juice on the countertops, double-sided tape, or foil (clean, unused) as deterrents.

Even if they work, you can’t put these things on every horizontal surface. Training certainly helps when you are present, but what can a frustrated dog owner do when Rover is alone? Management! Eliminate opportunities for thievery. When it comes to counter surfing, management is the most effective tool.

Anytime your dog is not supervised, give him a treat and put him in his crate or dog-proof gated room, even if you are only away for a few minutes. This is much easier, and more practical, than dog-proofing your entire home. It only takes seconds for a dog to get something he shouldn’t have. If your dog will be crated for longer periods, give him a chew toy.

Never underestimate a dog’s resourcefulness.

Besides the low-hanging fruit that’s begging to be taken from countertops and end tables, many determined dogs – short and tall – have opened cupboards, doors, drawers, even refrigerators. They can even get a drawer or oven door open and use these as steps to reach the countertop. If chairs are not pushed in, getting on the table is, well, a piece of cake. If Ginger is napping in her crate while you run to the store, she won’t be able to do any of these things.

Another thing you should never underestimate is the range of things that dogs consider tempting. Dishcloths, dish towels, and sponges are all potential snacks; even laundering them probably doesn’t remove every molecule of food scent. Not according to a dog’s discerning nose, anyway. Other items often left within reach are TV remotes, eyeglasses, purses and wallets. Why would a dog want those? Those things are saturated with our scent because they’re in our hands or on our faces all the time! And purses can be treasure troves.

When will the dog outgrow this habit? Many dogs never do; they make counter surfing a lifelong pursuit. Sometimes a dog’s stealing just causes inconvenience, but it can also end in tragedy. Managing the environment to keep the dog (and your stuff) safe should become a lifelong habit.

Join the AKC GoodDog! Helpline TODAY at the discount price of $59.99 — $20 off the regular fee. This provides lifetime training support for your dog. No renewals are necessary.

The Helpline is a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by trainers who can answer your training and behavioral questions. For more information about the service and enrolling: https://www.akc.org/products-services/akc-gooddog-helpline.